Five remain missing in SW landslide

KAILI, Guizhou, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Five people remain missing at the site of a landslide in southwest China's Guizhou Province as rocks continued to fall blocking a river, threatening villagers downstream.

Large rocks fell on Tuesday, making the volume of the landslide hit more than 200,000 cubic meters, said the rescue headquarters at the scene.

A lake has formed as rocks blocked a local river whose water level was rising. Some 20 households downstream were two kilometers away from the lake.

Experts said the lake did not currently pose a serious threat. A ditch was distributing the river's water.

The landslide occurred around 11:30 a.m. Monday.

Five people, including two children, are believed to have been buried under the rocks. They are coal mine workers and their relatives.

Rescue efforts were hampered as rocks continued to fall from the mountain on Tuesday.

A team of experts are using a pilotless helicopter and other instruments to examine the whole mountain as part of the rescue work.